Pleasure-railroad.



A. AITKBN. PLEASURE RAILROAD.

APPLICATION FILED DBO.13, 1910.

` Patented Apr. 11.

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A. AITKEN.

PLEASURE RAILROAD.

APPLIGATION FILED DB0. 1a, 1910,

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Patented Apr. 11, 1911,

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PLEASURE-RAILROAD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

llatented` Apr. 11., 1911.

Application filed December 13, 1910. Serial No. 597,153.

To a/Z whom fit may concern.:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER AITKEN, a British citizen, residing at Oudtshoorn, Cape Colony, South Africa, have invented new and useful Improvements in Pleasure- Railroads, of which t-he following is a specification The present invention appertains to the class of amusement devices embodying a track and a car arranged to travel upon the track said car being propelled by gravitative force, the track being inclined.

The purpose of the invention is to combine with the car planes whereby a portion of the travel of the car may be through the air, thereby adding variety to the pleasure eX- periencedby persons enjoying pleasure derived from a car traveling upon an inclined track.

The invention contemplates an undulating track, a car adapted to travel upon the track and provided with planes to impact against the air and supportthe car after leaving the track so that the car may glide safely to a point of rest.

The invention further contemplates a pond or body of water for the car to alight upon when descending, thereby avoiding all shock and adding further to the variety and amusement of the pleasure seeker.

The invention also provides planes which may be adjustable and a trip mechanism to insure automatic setting of the controlling plane or planes whereby the car may glide through the air to the best possible advantage after leaving the track so as to attain the longest flight possible.

The invention consists of the novel features, details of construction and combination of parts, which hereinafter will be more particularly set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed lout in the appended claim.

Referring to the drawings, forming a part of the application, Figure l is a side view of a pleasure railway embodying the. invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of a car. Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the trip mechanism whereby the controlling plane is set to give the car an upward impetus after leaving the track.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description, and indicated in all the views of the drawings, by the same reference characters.

The track is preferably of an undulating character, that is comprising a downwardly inclined portion 1 and an .upwardly inclined portion 2. The downwardly inclined portion 1 insures augmentation of the velocity of the car in its forward travel and the upwardly inclined portion 2 gives an elevation or lift to the car just prior to its aerial flight. An elevator 3 of any construction may be provided for lifting the car to the highest or starting point of the track. A pond or body of water 4 is located at the end of the track and may be of any dimensions.

The car 5 is preferably of boat shape so as to ride upon the water t when lighting therein. The car is also provided with supporting wheels 6, which support the car when traveling upon the track, thereby reducing the friction to the smallest amount possible. The upper portion of the car 5 flares so as to direct the spray outwardly when the car strikes the water and glides thereon. The car is provided with one or more air planes 7 of an extent to insure safety when the car is gliding through the air after leaving the track. The plane or planes 7 may be of any construction and arrangement so long as the desired result is attained, namely that of sustaining the car in the air in its' flight from the track to the body of water or other place of rest. One of the planes is adjustable so that at the predetermined point in the travel of the car the plane may be tripped and inclined so as to cause the car to take an upward fiight after leaving the track, with the result that the travel through the air may be prolonged to the fullest extent. A stop 8 is located near the rear end of the track and is adapted to engage a trip 9 mounted upon the car and having connection with the controlling plane to release or to set the same whereby the plane is given an upward and forward inclination, with the result that the car after leaving the track is caused to rise preliminary to its aerial flight.

In accordance with this invention the car having been elevated to the starting point of the track and moved forward slightly travels downwardly upon the inclined portion l of the track, thence upwardly upon the inclined part 2 and when near the end of the track the controlling plane is tripped and inclined with the result that the car is given an initial lift so that the glide throughY the air is the longest possible. lVhile it is preferred to have the body of water for the car to alight into it is to be understood that any alighting surface may be provided because the descent of the car will be gradual and when the wheels come in contact with the surface the car will run thereon. The body of water is preferred because no shock is experienced when the car alights after making a flight.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while I have described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the device which I now consider to be the embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the claim appended hereto.

I-Iaving thus described the invention what is claimed as new, is

A pleasure railway comprising a track, a car adapted to travel upon the track, an aeroplane mounted upon the car and comprising a controlling portion, a stop at the end of the track, and a trip upon the car to come in contact with said stop and set the controlling plane to cause the car to take an upward flight after leaving the track.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALEXANDER AITKE'N.

lVitnesses ABE NUSCHEID, R. AURLT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

